System and process for digital certification of pre-owned vehicles and equipment

ABSTRACT

An automated method for certifying pre-owned vehicles is provided including providing a graphical user interface (GUI) on a computing device to a set of stakeholders; generating a login page on a display of the computing device; receiving a stakeholders credentials for login; receiving a vehicle identification number (VIN); checking the VIN against a database of vehicles for eligibility of the vehicle to participate in a certified pre-owned program; sending the VIN to one or more vehicle history reporting agencies; receiving a vehicle history report (VHR) related to the VIN; providing the VHR to a user for review; determining the eligibility of the vehicle based on the user review of the VHR; generating on screen inspection forms based on the VIN; receiving user generated responses to the inspection forms; and generating a digital certification based on the generated responses that conform to preprogrammed guidelines or standards of the certified pre-owned program.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 62/491,875 filed Apr. 28, 2017, which is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention in general relates to a system and method for usedequipment retailing and sales; and in particular to an automatedinteractive system and method for certifying pre-owned vehicles andequipment for resale.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A certified pre-owned (CPO) car is a particular type of used car.Certified pre-owned vehicles are most often late-model low mileage carsor trucks that differ from other used vehicles by having been inspected,refurbished, and certified by a manufacturer, dealer, or othercertifying authority. Therefore, all CPO vehicles must pass a detailedinspection, outlined by the manufacturer. Most certified inspections aresimilar, but the number of inspection points covered on the vehicle canvary based on the manufacturer's definitions. The number of items in theinspection list help indicate the thoroughness of the inspection andwhether any repairs or maintenance work were required to bring thevehicle up to CPO condition.

Therefore, unlike a used vehicle, a CPO vehicle comes with a completeinspection that repairs any damaged or worn parts before being offeredfor sale. In order to get this same service when buying a used vehicle,the buyer must pay for an inspection and usually any subsequent repairs.

CPO vehicles also typically include an extended warranty, specialfinancing, and additional benefits illustratively including freeroadside assistance, free shuttles or loaner cars when a car is beingserviced, and basic scheduled vehicle maintenance. The extended warrantyfor a CPO vehicle is a manufacturer-backed certified pre-owned (CPO)warranty. A CPO extended warranty differs from or an aftermarketextended warranty, which is usually a third-party warranty sold bydealers to drivers who buy used cars that don't include a manufacturerwarranty, in that an extended warranty is typically in addition to acar's price, while a CPO warranty is included in the car's pricing. CPOwarranties come in a simple, one-size-fits-all package, while extendedwarranties do not. For example, a single brand of certified pre-ownedvehicles may offer 3 years or 100,000 miles of coverage, regardless ofage or model. That isn't necessary true of extended warranties, whichare often available for varying lengths of time and cover only specificparts of the vehicle.

The option of buying certified pre-owned vehicles has been gainingpopularity, particularly for more expensive vehicles that shoppers mightnot have been able to afford when new. Although the luxury brands arethe most popular certified cars, a lower price is a benefit for any CPOvehicle, since the value of a vehicle depreciates more during its firstyear than in any other.

Certified used car programs began appearing in the early 1990s ascustomers returned an increasing number of leased vehicles that were ingood mechanical condition, usually with fewer than 40,000 miles on theodometer. Typically, dealerships put the best of these returned vehicleson sale and sent the rest to auction, where used car dealers bought themand then sold them to the public.

With the aforementioned increase in the number of certified buyers thathas grown steadily in recent years, nearly every automotive manufacturernow has a CPO program in place. Buyers find the process of buying a CPOeasier than shopping for a used car. This is because the certificationprocess removes one of the major drawbacks to buying a used car:uncertainty about the mechanical condition of the vehicle. Afactory-trained mechanic inspects a potential CPO car to ensure itmeasures up to the requirements of that manufacturer's program. Thedealership that's performing the certification replaces or repairsanything that's worn beyond the limits of that manufacturer's program.

Automotive manufacturers have found CPO programs to be a very effectivemarketing tool that builds brand loyalty. Certified pre-owned (CPO)program vehicles typically offer higher sale margins than non-certifiedused vehicles and can serve as a gateway to long-term loyalty from acustomer. A CPO program can help protect vehicle residual values forcontinued competitive lease and annual percentage rate (APR) programs. ACPO program offers selling dealers sales benefits, a closed network forrepairs, and can support revenue in finance and insurance (F&I) offices.Furthermore, 49% of CPO customers trade up to a new vehicle from thesame brand (Autotrader.com 2014) within 30 months of the initial CPOpurchase. Plus, a CPO program helps sustain the brand's overall value,which translates into greater revenue for a brands affiliateddealerships. CPO vehicles typically sell 28 days faster than theirnon-certified counterparts (AutoTrader 2011—Certified Pre-Owned NationalAverages).

While certified pre-owned vehicle programs offer manufacturers, dealers,and consumers many benefits vehicle inspection and certification can bea delicate and error prone process with more than 70% of dealerinfractions being due to documentation issues. The reliability andtrustworthiness of a certification program is key to the success of CPOsales for manufacturers and dealers. Thus, there continues to be a needfor an improved system of integrated suites of software tools that maybe accessed and employed across all hardware platforms forimplementation of a certified pre-owned vehicle program that minimizesclerical and reporting errors while providing accurate real-timeinformation and records to stakeholders in the certification process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A non-transitory computer-readable medium for certifying pre-ownedvehicles is provided. The non-transitory computer-readable mediumincludes instructions stored thereon, that when executed on a processor,generate a graphical user interface (GUI); receive a vehicleidentification number (VIN); check the VIN against a database ofvehicles for eligibility of the vehicle to participate in a certifiedpre-owned program; send the VIN to one or more vehicle history reportingagencies; receive a vehicle history report (VHR) related to the VIN;provide the VHR to a user for review; determine the eligibility of thevehicle based on the user review of the VHR; generate on screeninspection forms based on the VIN; receive user generated responses tothe inspection forms; and generate a digital certification based on thegenerated responses that conform to preprogrammed guidelines orstandards of the certified pre-owned program.

An automated method for certifying pre-owned vehicles is also provided.The automated method for certifying pre-owned vehicles includesproviding a graphical user interface (GUI) on a portable computingdevice to a set of stakeholders; generating a login page on a display ofthe portable computing device; receiving a stakeholders credentials forlogin; receiving a vehicle identification number (VIN); checking the VINagainst a database of vehicles for eligibility of the vehicle toparticipate in a certified pre-owned program; sending the VIN to one ormore vehicle history reporting agencies; receiving a vehicle historyreport (VHR) related to the VIN; providing the VHR to a user for review;determining the eligibility of the vehicle based on the user review ofthe VHR; generating on screen inspection forms based on the VIN;receiving user generated responses to the inspection forms; andgenerating a digital certification based on the generated responses thatconform to preprogrammed guidelines or standards of the certifiedpre-owned program.

A system for certifying pre-owned vehicles is further provided. Thesystem for certifying pre-owned vehicles includes a server with adatabase connected via a network to one or more portable computingdevices located at vehicle dealer locations. A memory system is inelectrical communication with the server containing a machine-readablemedium having stored thereon one or more sequences of instructions. Whenthe one of more sequences of instructions are executed by a processor, amethod for certifying pre-owned vehicles is carried out. The method forcertifying pre-owned vehicles includes providing a graphical userinterface (GUI) on a portable computing device to a set of stakeholders;generating a login page on a display of the portable computing device;receiving a stakeholders credentials for login; receiving a vehicleidentification number (VIN); checking the VIN against a database ofvehicles for eligibility of the vehicle to participate in a certifiedpre-owned program; sending the VIN to one or more vehicle historyreporting agencies; receiving a vehicle history report (VHR) related tothe VIN; providing the VHR to a user for review; determining theeligibility of the vehicle based on the user review of the VHR;generating on screen inspection forms based on the VIN; receiving usergenerated responses to the inspection forms; and generating a digitalcertification based on the generated responses that conform topreprogrammed guidelines or standards of the certified pre-ownedprogram.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter that is regarded as the invention is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion ofthe specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, andadvantages of the invention are apparent from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherelike numbers in the different drawings have the same meaning, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a digital certification application environment diagramaccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate a flowchart of the operation of the systemplatform during vehicle certification from the dealer perspective inaccordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of the operation of the system platformduring vehicle certification from the OEM/Auditor perspective inaccordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 4A-4H are a series of screenshots of a graphical user interfaceshowing the different dealer access levels for implementing features ofthe system for improving the accuracy and streamlining the pre-ownedcertification process in accordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 4I-4T are a series of screenshots of a graphical user interfaceshowing the different screens involved in the inspection process inaccordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 4U is a screenshot of an embodiment of the corporate website;

FIG. 4V is a screenshot of an embodiment of the auditor website; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall view ofcommunication devices, computing devices, and mediums for implementingembodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has utility as an automated system and method forcertification of pre-owned vehicles and equipment in the context ofcertified pre-owned (CPO) programs. In a specific embodiment a systemand process for digital certification of used vehicles is provided.Embodiments of the invention provide a complete suite of applications(apps) for real-time state of the art management, user input, vehicleand equipment tracking, and reporting via networked computer systems andcloud-based mobile devices for original equipment manufacturers (OEM),dealers, independent auditors, compliance partners, and otherstakeholders. Embodiments of the inventive tool for implementing CPOprograms are designed for mobile phone and tablet computer platforms onthe iOS and Android operating systems as well as traditional desktopsand laptops running Windows, Apple OSX, and Chrome OS. The systemincludes a program application (app), secure data warehousing, andreal-time information availability. The suite of cloud based ornetworked based apps of embodiments of the invention include a dealerportal, a corporate reporting website, and an auditing and complianceportal.

Embodiments of the inventive platform for CPO programs provide anintegrated approach to document handling and data input and recordingthat minimizes clerical errors during a certification process that canpotentially jeopardize the reputation of a certification program, andmaintains the integrity of the certification documents across differentstages/periods of time. Embodiments of the inventive platform provideOEM, dealers, independent auditors and compliance partners, and otherstakeholders with instant access to available inventory and to all thepertinent records for a pre-owned vehicle or piece of equipment, andprovides a clear snapshot of the entire process as well as providedealers with current promotions, sales materials, media, and importantCPO forms. Furthermore, embodiments of the inventive platform may beintegrated into existing user certified pre-owned associate training,dealer standards, certification programs, and incentive programs.

Among the features provided by embodiments of the inventive platform forCPO programs to streamline the certification and inspection process andeliminate clerical errors include providing inspection forms thatauto-populate only with the items specific to a particular vehicleidentification number (VIN) or other equipment identifier so as to avoidwasted time and potential for errors checking off items that don't applyto that vehicle. Immediate notification is provided if a vehicle orpiece of equipment isn't qualified to be certified, nor can the vehicleor equipment be certified at a later date, including flagging anyvehicle or equipment recalls. Vehicle eligibility may be based on year,make, model, and mileage which are verified upfront to quickly let theuser know if that vehicle is qualified to be certified. Embodiments ofthe inventive platform are able to integrate with all required thirdparty systems to compile and store all the required information by VIN.VIN status inquiries and vehicle history reports (VHR) from majorindependent agencies are available through a portal of the graphicaluser interface (GUI) of the platform.

Complete checklists are provided via the GUI based on the requirementsof the certification program. Versions of inspection checklists areupdated throughout the inspection, certification, and sales process,where the entire checklist is populated in embodiments of the systemallowing systematic check-offs of all items pertinent to that specificVIN. The GUI of the platform will not allow user to move on to the nextsection of an inspection or certification form until the prior sectionis complete. In specific embodiments the GUI generates on screen promptsand other GUI features that are touch activated via a touchscreen of acomputing device. The inventive platform tracks and time-stamps theactivity of the vehicle or equipment throughout the process, allowingmanagement at the dealer and/or manufacturer/corporate level to see howlong the certification process is taking (for turn and velocitymetrics), where the vehicle is in the process, and for creating a recordof who exactly worked on the vehicle during the inspection process foraudit purposes. Post-sale checklists/requirements are also provided byembodiments of the platform.

Embodiments of the inventive platform are configured to track therequisition orders (R/O) for repairs that were made to each particularvehicle by year, make, and model to look at trends and occurrences, andstores inspection documentation along with all additionalforms/information for future reference. The system capturesreconditioning repair order numbers and identifies technician(s) thatconfirm reconditioning was performed on a vehicle or equipment. Theplatform may capture repair orders from a dealer management system (DMS)and the responsible technician(s). The platform also identifies dealermanagement that confirmed that an inspection and reconditioning wasperformed. The inventive system records signatures of all partiesinvolved in the inspection as well as dealer management that performsfinal sign-offs. Dealers may also set repair amount thresholds. A camerafunction is provided for uploading of photos during an inspection thatmay be saved with the inspection to assist with any audits. The camerafunction is also used to scan a VIN when starting an inspection

The inventive platform provides a corporate dashboard for tracking andreporting by zone, state, dealer, etc., and the dashboard may becustomized to prepare various reports management requires. Furthermore,corporate level controls track eligible dealers, and if a dealer isdeemed ineligible, the dealer is suspended from certifying futurevehicles and vehicles may be un-certified.

Embodiments of the inventive platform allow a dealer to perform retaildelivery registration (RDR) and unwinds of a vehicle. RDR's and unwindsmay be completed through the normal dealer process through the corporatenetwork. The platform provides a link out to the corporate network toperform these processes using an OEM's existing RDR system.Alternatively, embodiments of the platform are configured to perform theentire RDR process. The dealers will also be able to look up thedelivered vehicles, select the correct VIN and simply click a button tounwind the vehicle. Once that button is checked, there will be arequired signature for authorization. The consumer is able to sign offon the inspection before the vehicle can be registered for retaildelivery registration (RDR). A check-list is provided to make sure thedealer gives the customer all the required items—key fobs, letters,copies of inspection forms, etc. A section is provided for customerreview of documents being provided and acknowledgement signatures thatitems promised were delivered with date stamps. All pertinent documentsare stored in one file that a salesperson logs into, and enters a VIN orlooks for the vehicle by year, make, model to access the documentationfor the particular vehicle that a customer may review and signoff on.The signoff is part of a confirmation facility that may be provided fordigital signatures for managers, service technicians and consumers atvehicle delivery further creating a value story to the customer, knowingthat the consumer can purchase the CPO vehicle with confidence. Thedocuments may be printed or emailed to a customer that may include avehicle history report (VHR), inspection checklist, welcome letter orconfirmation of purchase, manuals, and warranty.

The platform portal for independent auditors and compliance inspectorsprovides access and/or export certification documents. The inspectionportal allows access to the electronic files of all vehicles that havepassed the inspection process and are approved by a dealer manager.

The suite of cloud-based apps and networked apps are fully designed towork with legacy IT systems. The apps and infrastructure to supportthese tools are built with the following attributes:

-   -   Secure cloud-based application servers    -   Stacks that feature real-time data replication, which makes the        platform ultra-scalable and reliable    -   Use of well-supported open source solutions for unrestricted use        of inventive platform from any third-party licensing or support        issues    -   Support for SaaS based models for smaller customers and an        Enterprise model for larger customers    -   Web app support for modern desktop and mobile browsers including        Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari    -   Native app support for mobile and desktop devices including        those operating on the iOS, Android, Windows, Mac OSX, and        Chrome OS platforms    -   Allows use on mobile devices in non-native mode [Does not        require use of app stores for distribution]    -   API to integrate features into custom applications    -   Feature rich reporting and analytics    -   Simple web-based user administration    -   Third party integration of the inventive platform with vehicle        history reporting agencies, independent auditors, OEM corporate        networks, and dealer management system (DMS) integration (third        party source).

Embodiments of the inventive app utilize a responsive user interface(UI). Additional aspects and features of the app and UI include:

-   -   Secure login    -   Built in search capabilities    -   Secured access may be provided to authorized users outside the        system—information continuity    -   UI and app may be customized for client's need and/or private        labeled    -   Fast view dashboard shows open and completed certifications    -   Production of action plans    -   The capability of capturing notes/comments    -   Additional capabilities of embodiments of the inventive platform        and app include reporting capabilities. A report generator and a        statistical analysis module to generate reports is part of the        platform.

While several steps performed by an inventive process and anon-transitory system involve one or more abstract ideas, the presentinvention as a whole includes aspects that amount to significantly morethan the abstract idea. Indeed, aspects of the present invention havenever been previously performed in manual or digital form prior to thepresent invention. As recitations of using a non-transitory computermedium to implement an automated system and method for certification ofpre-owned vehicles and equipment in the context of certified pre-owned(CPO) programs. In a specific embodiment a system and process fordigital certification of used vehicles is provided. These aspects of thepresent invention as an ordered combination, amount to significantlymore than simply organizing and comparing data by addressing theinstitutional challenges of maintaining the integrity of a certifiedpre-owned program with an integrated approach to document handling anddata input and recording that minimizes clerical errors during acertification process across different stages/periods of time.Embodiments of the inventive platform provide OEM, dealers, independentauditors and compliance partners, and other stakeholders with instantaccess to available inventory and to all the pertinent records for apre-owned vehicle or piece of equipment, and provides a clear snapshotof the entire process as well as provide dealers with currentpromotions, sales materials, media, and important CPO forms. As aresult, the present invention streamlines the certification processwhile improving the integrity of the process in the context of anautomated system and method for certifying pre-owned vehicles andequipment. Embodiments of the invention provide a complete suite ofapplications (apps) for real-time state of the art management, userinput, vehicle and equipment tracking, and reporting via networkedcomputer systems and cloud-based mobile devices for original equipmentmanufacturers (OEM), dealers, independent auditors, compliance partners,and other stakeholders.

Referring now to the figures, FIG. 1 shows a digital certificationapplication environment diagram 10 that shows the parties that provideinputs or access information related to a digital certificationapplication 20. The manufacturer 12 of the equipment or vehicle beingcertified for resale provides a retail delivery support tool andprovides notifications of any recalls related to a vehicle or equipmentthat may affect the suitability of the equipment or vehicle beingcertified for resale. The dealership 14 seeking certification ofequipment or a vehicle has stakeholders including a sales consultant, anadministrator, a service advisor and technicians, and a dealer managerwho contribute to the digital certification application 20, or utilizeinformation supplied by the digital certification application 20. Avehicle history report (VHR) provider 16 supplies information based onthe VIN about a vehicle being certified by the digital certificationapplication 20, or requests updated information about the vehicle fromthe application 20. A certification auditing service 18 monitors thedigital certification application 20 for the integrity of informationabout the equipment or vehicles being certified.

FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate a flowchart (30A-30D) of the operation of anembodiment of a system platform during vehicle certification from thedealer perspective. The process starts by accessing the dealer portalvia a login screen (block 32) and entering a user ID and password. Ifthe password is incorrect, the user is directed to a forgot passwordpage (block 34). The dealer portal is available to stakeholdersincluding service advisors/technicians (block 36), dealer manager (block38), sales consultant (block 40), and an administrator (block 42).Continuing from the perspective of the service advisor/technician, theuser either starts a new or continues with an open (existing) inspection(decision block 44). For a new inspection a vehicle identificationnumber (VIN) is entered (block 48) and the VIN is decoded (block 50).The VIN is checked automatically by the system to check for eligibility(block 52) in an interactive vendor network (IVN) (block 54), which is acorporate network for the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) thatmember dealers have access to. If the VIN is not eligible (decisionblock 56 is No) the user is notified that the vehicle with the enteredVIN is not eligible (block 58) for the CPO program. If the VIN iseligible (decision block 56 is Yes) the VIN is automatically submittedto an outside service (block 60) that tracks vehicle histories to obtainthe history of the vehicle (VHR) from the outside service (block 62).The vehicle history reports are then analyzed for accidents, flooddamage, or title issues that make the vehicle ineligible for the CPOprogram. If the VHR is not clean (decision block 64 is No) the vehiclewith the entered VIN is not eligible (block 66). If the VHR is clean(decision block 66 is Yes) an inspection form is displayed on the user(technician) device or is sent to the technician (block 68). Unlikechecking VHR form and preparing inspection forms manually, the inventivesystem and method prevent wasted time by not allowing access to theprepared inspection forms until all eligibility checks have beenproperly completed, thereby preventing inspection to begin on a vehiclethat is not eligible. The contents of the inspection form are based onthe vehicle to be inspected as determined by the VIN, as well ascertification program requirements. Accordingly, the inspection formsgenerate automatically based on the specific vehicle and CPO specificrequirements, which has never been performed manually. The technicianperforms the inspection (block 70). It is noted that the systemautomatically tracks and logs all inspection activity by the technicianincluding time stamping completed points of inspection. Such automatictracking has never been accomplished, particularly without increasingthe workload of the technician. Based on the inspection results, itemsthat require repair/correction are displayed in a list. According tosome embodiments, a dollar amount for the needed repairs isautomatically assigned to the repair items. In further embodiments, thelist of required repairs is sent to a manager, service, manage, or partsassociate who assess and assigns a repair cost to each required repairbased on experience. A determination is then made of whether the totaldollars amount required for repairing the vehicle is within a dealerlimit (decision block 74). If the repair dollars are above the dealerlimit (decision block 74 is No) the vehicle is not eligible for the CPOprogram (block 76) or the vehicle may be eligible for repairs only withthe signature and approval of a dealership manager. If the repairdollars are below the dealer limit (decision block 74 is Yes) thetechnician opens a repair order (RO) on the platform (block 78) andconducts the required repairs (block 80) and updates the RO as therepairs are completed and signs off that the repairs are completed(block 82). The certification checklist report is updated based on therepairs (block 82) and the technician electronically signs thecertification checklist report has been completed (block 84) as shown inFIG. 4S. Based on the completed and signed off inspection report thesystem automatically generates an alert to the dealer manager (DM) thatappears on a dashboard (see FIG. 4C) for certification authorization(block 86) and email and/or text may be sent to the dealer manager(block 88). The dealer manager reviews the inspection approval dashboard(block 90) within 24 hours of technician approval, however if more than24 passes the dealer manager is automatically sent a reminder emailand/or text message alert that a vehicle that has passed inspection isawaiting approval (block 92). The dealer manager reviews the inspectionform/RO and validates the certification (block 94) and electronicallysigns (see FIG. 4T) that the vehicle is certified for the CPO program(block 96). The system based on the DM approval sends the VIN of the nowcertified vehicle to the interactive vendor network (IVN) of the OEM toupdate available CPO vehicles in a master list of an inventory dashboard(block 100). The automatic updating of the master list provided by theinventive method and system enables CPO vehicles to be listed fasterthan ever before so the vehicles can be sold faster than ever before.

A sales consultant (SC) who retails certified vehicles uses theinventive portal to access a selling screen with CPO marketing materials(video, benefits of purchase, etc.) (block 102), the current inventorydashboard (block 104) of available CPO vehicles, and a VIN lookup screen(block 106). The sales consultant may use the current inventorydashboard (block 104) to select a vehicle and access information forviewing/printing (block 108) about the selected certified vehicleillustratively including certification documents and a sellsheet thatincludes repair(s) performed and incentives/offers for the vehicle. Inorder to complete a vehicle sale, the sales consultant utilizes a reportvehicle delivery (RDR) screen (block 110) on the platform to select andprint required documents for the customer (block 112) that customersigns (block 114). The customer signature indicates that all certifiedinspection data has been provided, and the vehicle is reported asdelivered through the interactive vendor network (IVN) system (block116), keeping records up to date in real time, which has never beenperformed manually. In addition, the vehicle is unwound for delivery(retail delivery registration (RDR)) (block 118) and the sales stafflooks up the delivered vehicle and marks the vehicle delivered (block120) and the vehicle delivery status is automatically updated throughthe IVN (block 122), keeping records up to date in real time, which hasnever been performed manually.

An administrator (block 42) has access to the entire platform/system(block 124) and has the ability to load content (block 126) on to theplatform illustratively including brochures, offers, etc. In addition,the administrator controls permission levels and access to the systemfor user accounts (block 128).

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart 130 of the operation of the systemplatform during vehicle certification from the OEM/Auditor perspective.A login screen (block 132) is provided to personnel at the corporate/OEMlevel and to independent auditors with a forgot password recoveryfacility (block 134). Login to embodiments of the platform is conductedthrough an OEM/auditor portal (block 136) which controls the level andareas of access in the portal. If the user is an OEM user (decisionblock 138 is Yes) the user is allowed access (block 146) to corporatereports (block 148) and to upload content to the platform (block 150).In addition, the OEM user may access the inspection dash board (block140) to review the most recent inspections across all dealers orinspections carried out by a specific dealer (block 142). The OEM usermay review all inspection details as well as log data for who worked onthe inspection (block 144), which was information that was unavailableprior to the inventive system and method. If the user is an auditor(decision block 138 is No) the auditor is only directed to theinspection dashboard (block 140) and is able to review the most recentinspections across all dealers or inspections carried out by a specificdealer (block 142). The auditor user may review all inspection detailsas well as log data for who worked on the inspection (block 144).

FIGS. 4A-4H are a series of screenshots of a graphical user interface(GUI) showing the different dealer access levels for implementingfeatures of the system for improving the accuracy and streamlining thepre-owned certification process. FIG. 4A shows a screenshot 160 of theadministrative dashboard selected with dashboard tab 162. Administrativeaccess grants a user full access to all functions of the dealer portalthrough the following tabs. The administrator dashboard (tab 162)contains various graphs that allow the user to view real timeinformation such as the total number of vehicles that have beencertified in the current calendar year, the total number of currentcertified vehicles and the total amount of open inspections not readilyavailable in a manually performed system and method. The create new tab164 is selected to start the inspection process. The view open tab 166populates the users screen with all open inspections at the dealership.Selection of the approve tab 168 directs the user to the approveinspection screen. The view inventory tab 170 provides a display of allof the vehicles that have been approved by a service manager. Filtersmay be used to drill down to specific VINs, models and years. Using aselected VIN, the user may download documentation illustrativelyincluding vehicle inspection checklists, vehicle history reports, VINInquiry, repairs/costs and content provided by the OEM of the vehicle.In addition, the admin has the ability to search through previouslydelivered vehicles to unwind an RDR. Selection of the admin tab 172allows for the addition of new users and is where an admin creates a newaccount. A search user section is where user information, permissions,and access can be adjusted. A reports section allows the user to runvarious reports in the system based on the inspection data that iscollected. Examples of reports illustratively include, user activity,and inspection repair costs. Admins are also able to uploaddocumentation after a vehicle is certified. The VIN search tab 174prompts the user to select whether they would like to search for openinspections, inspections waiting on dealer manager approval, orcertified inventory. The inventive graphical user interface for theinventive system and method accordingly allows real time access to vastamount of information to multiple users in various locations whileensuring the information is consistent, accurate, and up to date foreach user.

FIG. 4B shows a screenshot 180 of the service advisors and techniciansdashboard showing open inspections in a table 182 with fields for VIN,year, make, model, and last update. Users can resume an inspection byclicking on the VIN of the desired vehicle in the table 182. The VINsearch input field 184 allows a user to search for a vehicle based on aninputted VIN and will only display results of a VIN that is currentlypart of an open inspection. The create new button 186 will start a newinspection process.

FIG. 4C shows a screenshot 190 of the dealer manager approval dashboardselected with tab 192. The dealer manager dashboard 198 displays allcompleted inspections that are waiting for dealer manager approval.Clicking on a VIN in the list 198 expands the listing to review theinspection related information and for an electronic signature tocomplete the certification. The create new tab 194 initiates aninspection process. Selection of the view open tab 196 creates a tablewith all open inspections that need to be completed allowing immediateaccess to information otherwise unavailable prior to the inventivesystem and method. Selection of the VIN search input field 200 promptsthe dealer manager to select either to search for open inspections orfor inspections waiting for dealer manager approval.

FIG. 4D shows a screen shot 210 of a sales consultant page withinformation about the certified pre-owned program, videos and variousother items that can assist a sales consultant while working with acustomer during the purchase process. Sales consultants are notified inreal time when new documentation and sales aid become available via aweb notification system. Selection of the view inventory tab 212 bringsup the certified inventory screen 220 in FIG. 4E. The certifiedinventory screen displays a list 222 of all vehicles that have finishedthe certification process, thereby providing an accurate and real timelist of vehicles available for sale, allowing inventory to be soldfaster than ever before. The list may be sorted by year, make, andmodel, providing immediate and variable organization of information thatis performed manually would require significant time and labor and wouldbe error prone. Users also have the ability to filter the list based onyear and model. Selection of a VIN 224 allows the user to downloaddocumentation for the selected vehicle including the inspectionchecklist (via tab 234), vehicle history report(s) (via tab 232),repairs completed/RO data, documentation provided by the manufacturer(OEM) as shown in the vehicle information screen 230 of FIG. 4F, therebyallowing access to all information relevant to a given vehicle in onecentralized location available to users in different locations, whichwas never achieved manually. In addition, once a VIN is selected, thesales consultant has the ability to report the vehicle as sold andreport vehicle delivery (RDR) via tab 236 to the interactive vendornetwork (IVN) of the OEM, thereby keeping the inventory list as up todate as possible. FIG. 4G is a documentation/keys/manual screen 240 thatserves as a vehicle specific checklist of items reviewed with andprovided to the customer during delivery, thereby reducing thelikelihood of delivery errors as compared to a manually performed systemand method. FIG. 4H is a screenshot 250 of a delivery pre-sale checklist252 that the sales consultant uses to check off all of the items thathave been provided to the customer. Once the sales consultant clicks thesave & print button 254, the system will prompt the sales consultant toprint various documents such as the certification checklist and thevehicle history reports. Next the customer will be asked to sign in thecustomer signature box. Once the customer signs the form, the vehicledelivery will be reported to IVN as delivered/sold.

FIGS. 4I-4T are a series of screenshots of a graphical user interfaceshowing the different screens involved in the inspection process. FIG.4I also shown as FIG. 4B is a screenshot of an embodiment of the serviceadvisors and technicians dashboard showing open inspections in a table182 with fields for VIN, year, make, model, and last update. Users canresume an inspection by clicking on the VIN of the desired vehicle inthe table 182. The VIN search input field 184 allows a user to searchfor a vehicle based on an inputted VIN and will only display results ofa VIN that is currently part of an open inspection. The create newbutton 186 will start a new inspection process as is shown in greaterdetail below. Based on the VIN entered only inspection steps applicableto that vehicle will be displayed to the technician, creating vehiclespecific inspection checklists for each individual vehicle, therebyensuring time is not wasted by performing an inspection step that is notrequired for a given vehicle. Each step of the inspection process issaved upon completion, where the save also includes the time it took tocomplete the step as well as the user that completed the step, therebycreating valuable information and metrics not previously recordedwithout adding to the work load of the user and the time required tocomplete the task. Inspection steps may also be recorded with a camerafunction, where pictures are stored in the system attached to theinspection item. FIG. 4J is a VIN search screen used to check theeligibility of the vehicle to participate in a certified pre-ownedprogram (CPO). The VIN is entered in field 262 and the users selects thecheck eligibility button 264. In response to the selection the VIN issent to one or more independent vehicle history reporting agencies. Ifthe vehicle has a clear title, is accident free, and has not been in aflood, the vehicle is generally considered eligible to be a CPO vehicle.If the VIN is deemed ineligible, the vehicle is marked as ineligible inthe system and will be stored with all other ineligible vehicles,thereby reducing the likelihood that time will be wasted inspecting avehicle that is ineligible. A status bar 266 shows the percentage of theprocess steps completed and is present in most of the following screens.

Once a vehicle is determined to be eligible, the user proceeds to thevehicle information screen in FIG. 4K to confirm the information on fileabout the vehicle. In addition, the user will enter the current mileage,color, stock#, and repair order# in fields 272. The year, model and VINwill be auto-populated based on the decoded VIN decode. Once theinformation has been entered, the user will click the VHR button 274 toview the vehicle history report (VHR) and then click “Save & Go toNext.” button 276. Based on the information that is entered, theinteractive vendor network (IVN) will determine if the vehicle iseligible. Recall information is captured from the IVN of the OEM, or ifavailable from the reporting agency. An example screenshot 280 of avehicle history report is shown in FIG. 4L. The user proceeds to a VINverification screen 290 in FIG. 4M and is asked to verify the VHR, VINstatus inquiry (recalls must be completed), VIN plates in the vehiclemust match in door jambs, engine compartment, and car dashboard, and thefederal motor vehicle safety standard (FMVSS) and tire label must be onthe driver side B-pillar. The user marks these items as eligible orineligible in fields 292. Following completion of the screen the userclicks the “Save & Go to Next.” button 276 to proceed to the next step.FIG. 4N shows an information overlay 294 on VIN verification screen 290that is accessed by clicking on a link 296. In this instance the overlayexplains parameters in the VHR that would make a car ineligible for theCPO program. In addition, the system provides various tool tips andadvice as needed for inspection items with extensive descriptions orconditions. Once the VIN verification items are all marked eligible, theuser will be thanked for completing the consultant steps of theinspection on screen 300 of FIG. 4O, and the user will then click on the“Send to Technician.” button 302. Once submitted, an alert (email/text)is sent in real time to the technicians, informing them that a vehiclefor inspection is available. This will also generate an alert on thewebsite. Such immediate notification enables inspection work to begin assoon as possible, thereby reducing wasted time and increasing vehicleturn over, which is a significant improvement over any manualnotification previously performed.

FIGS. 4P-4T are technician level inspection screens showing sections ofthe inspection form. An embodiment of the inspection form has thefollowing sections unibody, after-market accessories/modifications,front interior, technician signature, and the manager approvalsignature. FIG. 4P is a screenshot 310 of the unibody inspection formwhere the technician is asked to inspect the vehicle for any priorstructural damage not disclosed in the VHR. If no damage is observed thetechnician checks the eligible box and clicks the save and go to nextbutton.

FIG. 4Q is a screenshot 320 of the after-market inspection form wherethe technician is asked to inspect the vehicle for any after-marketparts or modifications to the vehicle. If there are no after-marketparts the inspection may proceed to the next step in the inspectionprocess. If there are after-market parts or modifications, thetechnician must confirm the parts or modifications meet the programstandards of the certified pre-owned program before the vehicle iseligible. If the technician checks the eligible box and the save and goto next button, the inspection moves forward. FIG. 4R is an embodimentof a scrollable front interior inspection screen. The size of the frontinterior inspection requires the user to scroll down to complete theform. In an embodiment the screen scrolls down automatically as the useradvances through the form. Additional on-screen inspection formsillustratively include rear interior, front exterior, rear exterior,under hood/fluids, under vehicle, brakes/wheels/tires, replacementitems, and road test. FIG. 4S shows the technician sign-off screen witha signature entry field 342 and a complete inspection button 344. Thetechnician's printed name and the signed date are captured by the systemupon submission. In embodiments of the inventive platform, theinspection form is stored with the VIN so that it can be accessed, alongwith repair RO data will link so that repairs can be tracked. Once“Complete Inspection” is clicked, the system will send a real time alertto the dealer manager to let them now there is an inspection to approveagain reducing down time for each vehicle during the inspection process.FIG. 4T is a screenshot 350 of a dealer manager sign-off screen. Thedealer manager accesses and reviews the full inspection of thetechnician via button 352 and approves the inspection via button 354.The dealer manager is unable to approve the inspection unless theyreview the full inspection forms, ensuring a full and adequate review,which was not possible to ensure prior to the present inventive systemand method. The dealer manager signs in signature box 342 and clicks theapproval button 354. The dealer manager printed name and the signed dateare captured by the system upon submission.

FIG. 4U is a screenshot 360 of an embodiment of the corporate website.Users with access to the corporate reporting website will be able toaccess reports and a corporate dashboard where they can view the totalnumber of certified vehicles nationally, by zone or by dealer, which isinformation not previously immediately available. The system will alsotrack the amount of vehicles certified on a month to month basis.Furthermore, the dashboard based views of the corporate website allowcorporate users to view program information in the form of highly-visualgraphs and trend charts, thereby providing valuable program metricsotherwise unavailable prior to the inventive system and method. Astatistical analysis module may be employed to analyze the data fortends and correlations. Embodiments of the corporate website alsoinclude access to certified documentation, certified Inventory,certified promotions, sales materials and promotions, and display media.Corporate users also have the ability to create and run custom reportsthat utilize all data that is collected inside of the inspectionprogram. Examples of custom reports illustratively include cost ofrepairs, CPRO issues, user tracking, days in service, and days to turn(from start of an inspection to the date a vehicle is delivered to thecustomer (RDR'd).

FIG. 4V is a screenshot 370 of an embodiment of the auditor website thatallow independent auditors to view all certified vehicles in the system.Auditors have access to all certified vehicles (and the appropriatedocumentation) that passed the inspection process and were approved bydealer management. Auditors may select a specific VIN in a table ofrecent inspections 372 to view an inspection form. The VIN search 374allows the auditor to find a specific vehicle.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall view ofcommunication devices, computing devices, and mediums for implementing asystem and method for certifying pre-owned vehicles and equipment.

The system 400 includes multimedia devices 402 and desktop computerdevices 404 configured with display capabilities 414 and processors forexecuting instructions and commands, as well as running software andapps. The multimedia devices 402 are optionally mobile communication andentertainment devices, such as cellular phones, tablets, laptops, andmobile computing devices that in certain embodiments are wirelesslyconnected to a network 408. The multimedia devices 402 typically havevideo displays 418 and audio outputs 416. The multimedia devices 402 anddesktop computer devices 404 are optionally configured with internalstorage, software, and a graphical user interface (GUI) for carrying outelements of the certified pre-owned system and method according toembodiments of the invention. The network 408 is optionally any type ofknown network including a fixed wire line network, cable and fiberoptics, over the air broadcasts, local area network (LAN), wide areanetwork (WAN), global network (e.g., Internet), intranet, etc. withdata/Internet capabilities as represented by server 406. Communicationaspects of the network are represented by cellular base station 410 andantenna 412. In a preferred embodiment, the network 408 is a LAN andeach remote device 402 and desktop device 404 executes a user interfaceapplication (e.g., Web browser) to contact the server system 406 throughthe network 408. Alternatively, the remote devices 402 and 404 may beimplemented using a device programmed primarily for accessing network408 such as a remote client.

The software for the system and method for certifying pre-owned vehiclesand equipment of embodiments of the invention may be resident on tablets402, desktop or laptop computers 404, or stored within the server 406 orcellular base station 410 for download to an end user. Server 406 may beimplemented as a cloud-based service for implementing embodiments of theplatform with a multi-tenant database for storage of separate clientdata for each independent original equipment manufacturer.

As a person skilled in the art will recognize from the previous detaileddescription and from the figures and claims, modifications and changescan be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention withoutdeparting from the scope of this invention defined in the followingclaims.

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for certifying pre-ownedvehicles, comprising instructions stored thereon, that when executed ona processor, perform the steps of: generating a graphical user interface(GUI); receiving a vehicle identification number (VIN); checking the VINagainst a database of vehicles for eligibility of the vehicle toparticipate in a certified pre-owned program; sending the VIN to one ormore vehicle history reporting agencies; receiving a vehicle historyreport (VHR) related to the VIN; providing the VHR to a user for review;determining the eligibility of the vehicle based on the user review ofthe VHR; generating on screen inspection forms based on the VIN;receiving user generated responses to the inspection forms; andgenerating a digital certification based on the generated responses thatconform to preprogrammed guidelines or standards of the certifiedpre-owned program.
 2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium ofclaim 1 wherein the user generated responses are recorded in a databasewith searchable variables.
 3. The non-transitory computer-readablemedium of claim 1 further comprising a report generator and astatistical analysis module to generate reports.
 4. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 3 wherein the generated reports arepassword protected and only available to authorized personnel.
 5. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the GUIgenerates on screen prompts and other GUI features that are touchactivated via a touchscreen of a computing device.
 6. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the on screen inspectionforms further comprise after-market inspection, front interiorinspection, rear interior, front exterior, rear exterior, underhood/fluids, under vehicle, brakes/wheels/tires, replacement items, androad test.
 7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1further comprising on-screen sign-off screens to approve vehicleinspection and certification.
 8. An automated method for certifyingpre-owned vehicles, said method comprising: providing a graphical userinterface (GUI) on a portable computing device to a set of stakeholders;generating a login page on a display of the portable computing device;receiving a stakeholders credentials for login; receiving a vehicleidentification number (VIN); checking the VIN against a database ofvehicles for eligibility of the vehicle to participate in a certifiedpre-owned program; sending the VIN to one or more vehicle historyreporting agencies; receiving a vehicle history report (VHR) related tothe VIN; providing the VHR to a user for review; determining theeligibility of the vehicle based on the user review of the VHR;generating on screen inspection forms based on the VIN; receiving usergenerated responses to the inspection forms; and generating a digitalcertification based on the generated responses that conform topreprogrammed guidelines or standards of the certified pre-ownedprogram.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the user generated responsesare recorded in a database with searchable variables.
 10. The method ofclaim 8 further comprising a report generator and a statistical analysismodule to generate reports.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein thegenerated reports are password protected and only available toauthorized personnel.
 12. The method of claim 8 wherein the GUIgenerates on screen prompts and other GUI features that are touchactivated via a touchscreen of a computing device.
 13. The method ofclaim 8 wherein the on screen inspection forms further compriseafter-market inspection, front interior inspection, rear interior, frontexterior, rear exterior, under hood/fluids, under vehicle,brakes/wheels/tires, replacement items, and road test.
 14. The method ofclaim 8 further comprising on-screen sign-off screens to approve vehicleinspection and certification.
 15. A system for certifying pre-ownedvehicles, said system comprising: a server with a database connected viaa network to one or more portable computing devices located at vehicledealer locations; a memory system in electrical communication with saidserver containing a machine readable medium having stored thereon one ormore sequences of instructions which, when executed by a processor,cause a method to be carried out, the method comprising: providing agraphical user interface (GUI) on a portable computing device to a setof stakeholders; generating a login page on a display of the portablecomputing device; receiving a stakeholders credentials for login;receiving a vehicle identification number (VIN); checking the VINagainst a database of vehicles for eligibility of the vehicle toparticipate in a certified pre-owned program; sending the VIN to one ormore vehicle history reporting agencies; receiving a vehicle historyreport (VHR) related to the VIN; providing the VHR to a user for review;determining the eligibility of the vehicle based on the user review ofthe VHR; generating on screen inspection forms based on the VIN;receiving user generated responses to the inspection forms; andgenerating a digital certification based on the generated responses thatconform to preprogrammed guidelines or standards of the certifiedpre-owned program.
 16. The system of claim 15 wherein the user generatedresponses are recorded in a database with searchable variables.
 17. Thesystem of claim 15 further comprising a report generator and astatistical analysis module to generate reports.
 18. The system of claim17 wherein the generated reports are password protected and onlyavailable to authorized personnel.
 19. The system of claim 15 whereinthe GUI generates on screen prompts and other GUI features that aretouch activated via a touchscreen of a computing device.
 20. The systemof claim 15 wherein the on screen inspection forms further compriseafter-market inspection, front interior inspection, rear interior, frontexterior, rear exterior, under hood/fluids, under vehicle,brakes/wheels/tires, replacement items, and road test.
 21. The system ofclaim 15 further comprising on-screen sign-off screens to approvevehicle inspection and certification.